Reducing Fire Deaths

 

A short-life working group has been set up to examine how to reduce deaths and injuries caused by fires.

After figures published this week revealed a 62 per cent rise in the number of fire fatalities last year, Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing signalled the Scottish Government's commitment to improve fire safety and reduce the risks of fire.

Mr Ewing has asked the new working group, led by Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer for Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, to address and coordinate efforts to reduce avoidable fire fatalities and injuries.

The group will consider how the Scottish Government and local government can work collaboratively to develop and implement good practice to improve community safety in Scotland. It will also examine how a multi-agency approach might address the wider societal problems of substance abuse and wilful fire-raising that often contribute to these tragic statistics.

 

For more information: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/31145309